Apparatus for automatically sewing a tape on workpieces

ABSTRACT

A sewing apparatus having devices for automatically applying a tape drawn off from a tape supply during its application to a workpiece cut along a seam path determined by a template means for cutting off the tape after termination of the sewing operation are provided.

[ 3,682,] 19 [451' Aug. 8, 1972 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [541 APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY SEWING A TAPE ON WORKPIECES 20 O222 13 3111 L LLL 2212222 H HH 2Jn .222 1 "1 111 l n $4 .1 Ma H Nada mam I I] 0k mm dd h. c e hh CM M C c .S C SS 6930688 6657666 9999999 lllllll WUWW WW l 1 ll 5395590 0754 57 2 2 3 6530775 7255200 3323333 e I 5y k G w d d. n M e .w m B m m m a m a m a 9 u f l J A e 2 7 .1 My 8 l u m mG Hm KA M l n m o. m m N n e i. m m. I A F A 1 1 2 3 2 l 7 7 2 2 Primary Examiner-H. Hampton Hunter App'immn Prim! Attorney-Jacob L. Kollin ABSTRACT A sewing apparatus having devices for a Feb. 28, 1969 Germany..........P l9 10 229.5

[52] US. Cl. l2/12l.l4, 112/130, 112/152 utomatically [51] Int. Cl. 3/00 pl i g a tape drawn ofifi-om a tape supply during its [58] Field of Search....ll2/l30, 152, 121.14, 121.12, along a seam path 112/l21.l5,l51,152,l36,205

application to a workpiece cut determined by a template means for cutting off the tape after termination of the sewing operation are provided. V

8 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY SEWING A TAPE ON WORKPIECES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has been found that when producing garments of stretchable fabrics, i.e., jackets and coats, it is required to apply to all parts of those workpiece cuts or prepared parts which are subjected to a high stress, during the later treatment, a stiffening, less stretchable tape.

Commonly, this tape is applied by a lockstitch sewing machine having a lower feed dog and a presser foot. A tape guide is provided in front of the presser foot through which the tape drawn off from a stationary tape supply is guided by hand under the needle of a similarly stationarily arranged sewing machine according to the subsequently extending path of the seam.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for automatically applying a tape to a workpiece, cut according to the contour of a template.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus for automatically applying a tape to a workpiece cut according to the contour of a template and cutting off the tape as well as the sewing threads after the termination of a sewing operation.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an apparatus, wherein two workpiece cuts will be automatically provided with a tape according to the contour of a template and wherein after termination of the sewing operation the tape connecting the two workpiece cuts will be cut off from one of the workpiece cuts for the purpose of removing the workpiece cut provided with a tape from the apparatus during the sewing of the other workpiece cut and the insertion of a new one.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, appended claims and annexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side elevation taken along line ll-Il of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a schematic top plan view of a portion of the apparatus on a reduced scale;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the tape guide and the tape supply;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a section taken along line VI--VI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view in the direction of line VII-VII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged representation of the workpiece press pad and the tape guide, partially in section;

FIG. 9 is a representation corresponding to FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective representation of the workpiece press pad and the tape guide on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation of the tape cutting device and FIG. 12 is a view in the direction of the arrow A of F [G 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a swinging arm 2 is pivoted in a support 1 and connected at its free end with a supporting arm 3 which receives a roller 4 (FIG. 2). The roller is magnetizable by means of a magnetic coil 5 and driven by a motor 6 through a gearing 7.

A sewing machine 8 is supported upon the supporting arm 3 and comprises a lower arm 9, a standard 10 and an overhanding arm 11 terminating in a head 12. The needle bar carrying a needle 13 and reciprocating in the head 12 (FIG. 1) in the customary manner is driven by a motor 14 which is carried by the sewing machine 8. Behind the needle 13 there is arranged a presser bar 15, to which a workpiece press pad 16 is secured. The presser bar 15 is controlled by a device not shown of such a kind, that the workpiece cut 17 during the period required for stitch forming, i.e., when the needle 13 pierces the workpiece cut 17.

The roller 4 extending coaxially with the needle 13 rests against a template 18 (FIG. 2) which is secured to the support 1 by means of spacer pieces 19. The template 18 is provided with an inner raceway 20, so that the roller 4 can move about it. There is furthermore secured to the support 1 a work supporting plate 21 having a cutout 22 corresponding with the shape of the template l8 and serving as a support for two workpiece cuts 17, 17'. Each workpiece cut 17, 17 is clamp ed by means of workpiece clamping plates 23, 24 on the work supporting plate 21. The workpiece clamping plates are pivoted to angle levers 25, 26, the free arms 27 of which are respectively articulated to an air cylinder 28 (FIG. 2) in order to remove the workpiece clamping plates 23, 24 from the workpiece cuts, independently from each other.

The workpiece press pad 16 (FIGS. 8 to 10) secured to the presser bar 15 is formed at the lower end of its shank 32 with a substantially cylindrical part 29 having a through hold 30 for the needle 13 (FIG. 5). On this cylindrical part 29 of the workpiece press pad 16 is pivoted a tape guide member 31, which is provided with an inclined slot 33 for guiding a tape to be applied to the workpiece cuts 17,17.

A holding plate 35 and an angled holding member 36 are secured to the tape guide member 31 by'means of screws 37 (FIG. 10). The holding plate 35 is formed with a semicircular recess 38 engaging in a groove 39 which is arranged in the cylindrical part 29 of the workpiece press pad 16 and serves to support the tape guide 31 rotatably and axially immovably at the shank 32. A spring plate 41 provided with a recess 40 for the passage of the needle 13 is secured to the tape guide 31 by means of a screw 42. Moreover, the tape guide 31 is formed with a guide groove 43 (FIG. 4) engaging in a nose 44 which is arranged on a part 45 (FIG. 6).

In the lower arm 9 of the sewing machine 8 is inserted by means of screws 46, a throat plate 47 having a cylindrical lug 48 provided with a stitch hole 49. A plate 50 is pivoted about the lug 48 and secured against axial displacement. On the plate is secured a guide block 51 having a guide groove 52 and a recess 53. Furthermore, two rollers 54 are pivoted in the guide block 51 which are supported on the throat plate 47, so that they can roll thereon.

The part 45 formed with a nose 44 is secured to a support plate 56 by means of screws 55, and the sup port plate 56 is in turn secured to the plate 50 (FIG. and 6) by means of screws 58 with two spacer pieces 57 inserted therebetween.

A sliding member 59 is movably guided in the guide groove 52 against the tension of a tension spring 61 which engages a pin 60 inserted in the sliding member 59. The other end of the tension spring 61 is secured to a pin 62 which is arranged in a recess 63 of the part 45. The sliding member 59 is provided on both ends with semicircularly shaped arms 65 which are formed with bevelings 64 and rest against the edge of the cutout 22 disposed in the work supporting plate 21 and formed with a corresponding beveling.

On the supporting plate 56 (FIG. 4 and 5) there is mounted, by means of screws 67, a bracket 66 in which a rod is movably supported by means of a clamping screw 69. A guide member 70 for the tape 34 is secured to the rod 68 and provided with an U-shaped groove 71 for the lateral guidance of the tape 34.

Secured to the angled holding member 36 (FIGS. 8 and is a tape slider 72 consisting of a spring plate 73. One shank of the latter is formed by a recess 74 and provided with a point 76 resting upon the tape 34 (FIG. 8) in the U-shaped groove of the guide member 70 for the tape 34 and moves it down. (FIG. 9) when the workpiece press pad 16 moves down.

Secured to the supporting plate 56 is a vertical rod 77 on which is pivoted a spool of tape 78. The tape drawn off from the spool runs through a tape guide and defection 79 consisting of two pairs of guide rods 80, 81, respectively, which are arranged side by side relatively close and secured to a beam 82. The beam is secured to a holder 83 by means of screws 84 and the latter in turn is screwed, together with the part 54, to the supporting plate 56 by means of screws 55.

The work supporting plate 21 is provided with slots 85, 86 (FIGS. 1, 11 and 12) into which can enter the knives 87 and 88 (FIG. 2) of the tape cutting device, in order to cut off the tape 34 between the workpiece cuts 17, 17'.

As may be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, an air cylinder 91 is received in a bearing block 90. To the piston rod 92 of the air cylinder is clamped a knife carrier 93. Clampably secured to the knife carrier is a guide bar 94, which is in turn movably supported in the bearing block 90. Furthermore, a counterknife 95 is screwed to the knife carrier 93 by means of a screw 96 and cooperates with a movable knife 97 which is screwed to a plate 98 and pivoted with the plate 98 about a bolt 99 axially displaceably received in the knife carrier 93. A pressure spring 100, received by the bolt 99, and pressing against the plate 98 and a disk 101 also received by the bolt 99, causes an elastic abutment of the knife 97 against the counterknife 95. The spring tension is adjustable by means of the nuts 102 on the bolt 99.

A bolt 104, provided with a lug 103 is pivoted in the plate 98. A rod 105 is fixedly connected to the bolt 104 and surrounded by a spring 106 which presses against the bolt and an angle piece 107 secured to the knife carrier 93. The angle piece 107 and the bearing block 90 are provided with recesses 108, 109 for the passage of the rod 105, which in turn has a thread piece 1 10 for receiving nuts 1 11 serving as a stop.

The bearing block 90 is provided with a slot 1 12, into which is clamped a bearing part 113 by means of a screw 114. The bearing part is connected with the angle lever 25.

The apparatus according to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 is designed in such a manner, that two symmetrical workpiece cuts 17, 17 of a garment are provided with the tape 34 at predetermined places during a continuous working operation, during which the tape between the two workpiece cuts will be cut off by means of the tape cutting knife 87, for example after sewing of the workpiece cut 17 and after starting the sewing of the workpiece cut 17', whereupon the workpiece clamping plate 23 is lifted by the angle lever 25 by means of the pressurized air cylinder 28, for removal of the workpiece cut 17 and insertion of a new one. Consequently, a continuous working operation takes lace. p The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The two workpiece clamping plates 23 and 24 are lifted by the respective air cylinders, for example, air cylinder 28, so that the two workpiece cuts 17 and 17 can be placed on the work supporting plate 21 in such a manner, that after lowering of the clamping plates 23 and 24 the places of the workpiece cuts 17, 17' to be sewn will project from the cutout 22 in the work supporting plate 21 and also from the correspondingly formed margin of the workpiece clamping plates 23 and 24.

After lowering of the clamping plates 23, 24, the horizontally swingable sewing machine 8 is moved eventually at 22 (FIG. 1) against the cutout 22 provided in the work supporting plate 21. Thus the bevelings 64 of the arms 65 of the sliding member 59 rest under the tension of the tension spring 61 against the beveled edge of the cutout 22. v

As the motors 6 and 14 and the magnetic coil 5 are switched on, the needle 13 begins to reciprocate and simultaneously the magnetic roller 4 begins to roll along the inner raceway 20 of the template 18, so that the sewing machine 8 will move in clockwise direction. The tape 34 which extends from the spool 78, is guided through the tape deflection 79, the guide member and the slot 33 in the tape guide 31, and pressed underneath the workpiece press pad 16 by means of the spring plate 41, will be applied to the workpiece cut 17.

Due to the reciprocating movements of the workpiece press pad 16 and he elastic tongue of the tape slider 72. (FIGS. 8 to 10) connected thereto, which are dependent on the movement of the needle 13, a certain length of tape will be drawn off from the spool 78 during each downward movement of the tongue 75 and led to the tape guide 31, so that the tape 34 will be applied to the workpiece cuts 17, 17 without wrinkling.

After the workpiece cut 17 has left the workpiece press pad 16, the stitch formation takes place only in the tape 34 which continues to be drawn off from the spool 78 as long as the needle 13 of the sewing machine 8 reaches the workpiece cut 17 at X (FIG. 1), the position from which the tape 34 will be sewn upon the workpiece cut 17'.

When beginning the sewing operation, an electrical controlling device (not shown) of the tape cutting knife 81 will be operated in order to cutoff the tape between the workpiece cuts 17 and 17'. Subsequently, the workpiece clamping plate 23 will be lifted so that the workpiece cut 17 can be removed and the next workpiece cut to be sewn can be inserted.

During the exchange of these workpiece cuts, the workpiece cut 17 continues to be sewn. In an analogous manner, the the tape will be cut by means of the tape cutting knife 88 (FIG. 2) after sewing of the workpiece cut 17', prior to the lifting of the workpiece clamping plate 24, for removing the workpiece cut 17 and inserting a new one. As may be seen in FIG. 1, the tape guide 31, together with the spool of tape 78, performs one rotation about the needle 13 during one bypass of the template 18.

The operation of the tape cutting knives 87, 88 is as follows:

The cutting knives 95, 97 (FIG. 11), acting like scissors are in a retracted position, out of the path of motion of the sewing machine 8 during the sewing of the workpiece cuts 17', 17. In order to cut off the tape, the air cylinder 91 (FIG. 1 l) is pressurized, whereby at first the knife carrier 93 is advance to such an extent by the extending piston rod 92, that the tape to be cut off will move between the two knives 85 and 97. After this, the nut 111 arranged upon the rod 105 abuts against the bearing block 90. During the further extension of the piston rod 92, the cutting knife 97 on the plate 98 is rotated about the bolt 99 as a consequence of the limitation of the extension length of the rod 105 by which the tape between the two knives 95 and 97 is cut off. After return of the piston rod 92 into its normal position, the knife 97 is returned to its initial position by means of the spring 106.

What I claim is:

1. In a sewing apparatus comprising a sewing machine having a motor-driven vertically reciprocating needle bar provided with a needle, stitch forming means, a throat plate provided with stitch hole, a presser bar and a workpiece press pad, a movable link arm carrying said sewing machine, an intermediate link arm supporting said movable link arm, a support member carrying said intermediate link arm, a driven shaft mounted in said movable link arm and being in alignment with the axis of said needle bar, a magnetic roller secured to said driven shaft, a template secured to said support member and having an inner raceway for cooperation with said magnetic roller, a work supporting plate carried by said support member and having a cutout formed corresponding to said inner raceway of said template, and workpiece clamping means arranged on said work supporting plate and means for applying a tape to a workpiece along a contour determined by said template, said means for applying a tape to a workpiece comprising a tape guide means for a spool of tape, said tape guide means being pivoted about the axis of said workpiece press pad and controlled corresponding to the shape of said cutout formed in said work supporting plate, a cutting device for cutting off tape after it has been applied, said cutting device being adapted for movement from a normal position beyond the path of motion of said sewing machine a cutting position, said workpiece clamping means consisting of two workpiece clamping plates, said two workpiece clamping plates being movable down upon the workpieces independently from each other, said workpiece press pad secured to said presser bar being provided with a through hole for said needle and a cylindrical part, said means for applying a tape being pivoted about said cylindrical part and secured against axial movement, said throat plate of said sewing machine is provided with a cylindrical lug through which said stitch hole extends, said workpiece press pad secured to said presser bar being provided with a through hole for said needle and a cylindrical part, said means for applying a tape comprising a plate pivoted about said cylindrical lug and secured against axial movement, a sliding member having two arms rounded and beveled for cooperation with said cutout of said work supporting plate, a guide block secured to said plate for receiving said sliding member, a spring for pressing said bevelings of said arms against said cutout of said work supporting plate, a tape guide means having an inclined slot for said tape and pivoted about said cylindrical part of said workpiece press pad and secured against axial movement, said tape guide means being slidably guided in said guide block in a vertical plane, a spool for tape carried by said plate being pivoted about said cylindrical lug, and a tape guide and deflection means between said spool of tape and said tape guide means.

2. A sewing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further provided with two rollers rotatably mounted in said guide block and rolling on said throat plate for supporting said plate.

3. A sewing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further provided with a tape bearing member having an U- shaped groove being arranged toward the right bottom corner and directed towards said inclined slot of said tape guide means.

4. A sewing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sewing machine is provided with means for imparting reciprocating movements to said needle bar, and said means for applying a tape further comprises a tape bearing member secured to said pivoted plate and having an U-shaped groove arranged toward the right bottom comer and directed towards said inclined slot of said tape guide means, and means for drawing off tape from a tape supply at each downward movement of said workpiece press pad and for feeding said drawn tape to said tape guide means.

5. A sewing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said device for drawing off tape includes a spring tongue having a point operable within said U-shaped groove of said tape bearing member and an angled holding member secured to said tape guide means and carrying said spring tongue at the free and angled end of said holding member.

6. A sewing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cutting device comprises a cutting knife, a counterknife cooperating with said cutting knife, a knife carrier carrying said cutting knife and said counterknife, and an adjustable device for actuating said knives after displacing said knife carrier out of the normal and retracted position into an operative position.

7. A sewing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said cutting device further includes a pneumatic cylinder having a piston rod connected with said knife carrier, a bearing block receiving said air cylinder, a sliding bar secured to said knife carrier and slidably received in said bearing block, said block having a bore and said adjustable means comprising a rod linked to said cutting knife and passing through said bore in said 8 plates, for clamping two workpieces independently from each other, further comprising two tape cutting devices for cutting ofl the tape after it has been applied to one and to a part of the other one of said two neighboring workpieces. 

1. In a sewing apparatus comprising a sewing machine having a motor-driven vertically reciprocating needle bar provided with a needle, stitch forming means, a throat plate provided with stitch hole, a presser bar and a workpiece press pad, a movable link arm carrying said sewing machine, an intermediate link arm supporting said movable link arm, a support member carrying said intermediate link arm, a driven shaft mounted in said movable link arm and being in alignment with the axis of said needle bar, a magnetic roller secured to said driven sHaft, a template secured to said support member and having an inner raceway for cooperation with said magnetic roller, a work supporting plate carried by said support member and having a cutout formed corresponding to said inner raceway of said template, and workpiece clamping means arranged on said work supporting plate and means for applying a tape to a workpiece along a contour determined by said template, said means for applying a tape to a workpiece comprising a tape guide means for a spool of tape, said tape guide means being pivoted about the axis of said workpiece press pad and controlled corresponding to the shape of said cutout formed in said work supporting plate, a cutting device for cutting off tape after it has been applied, said cutting device being adapted for movement from a normal position beyond the path of motion of said sewing machine a cutting position, said workpiece clamping means consisting of two workpiece clamping plates, said two workpiece clamping plates being movable down upon the workpieces independently from each other, said workpiece press pad secured to said presser bar being provided with a through hole for said needle and a cylindrical part, said means for applying a tape being pivoted about said cylindrical part and secured against axial movement, said throat plate of said sewing machine is provided with a cylindrical lug through which said stitch hole extends, said workpiece press pad secured to said presser bar being provided with a through hole for said needle and a cylindrical part, said means for applying a tape comprising a plate pivoted about said cylindrical lug and secured against axial movement, a sliding member having two arms rounded and beveled for cooperation with said cutout of said work supporting plate, a guide block secured to said plate for receiving said sliding member, a spring for pressing said bevelings of said arms against said cutout of said work supporting plate, a tape guide means having an inclined slot for said tape and pivoted about said cylindrical part of said workpiece press pad and secured against axial movement, said tape guide means being slidably guided in said guide block in a vertical plane, a spool for tape carried by said plate being pivoted about said cylindrical lug, and a tape guide and deflection means between said spool of tape and said tape guide means.
 2. A sewing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further provided with two rollers rotatably mounted in said guide block and rolling on said throat plate for supporting said plate.
 3. A sewing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further provided with a tape bearing member having an U-shaped groove being arranged toward the right bottom corner and directed towards said inclined slot of said tape guide means.
 4. A sewing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sewing machine is provided with means for imparting reciprocating movements to said needle bar, and said means for applying a tape further comprises a tape bearing member secured to said pivoted plate and having an U-shaped groove arranged toward the right bottom corner and directed towards said inclined slot of said tape guide means, and means for drawing off tape from a tape supply at each downward movement of said workpiece press pad and for feeding said drawn tape to said tape guide means.
 5. A sewing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said device for drawing off tape includes a spring tongue having a point operable within said U-shaped groove of said tape bearing member and an angled holding member secured to said tape guide means and carrying said spring tongue at the free and angled end of said holding member.
 6. A sewing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cutting device comprises a cutting knife, a counterknife cooperating with said cutting knife, a knife carrier carrying said cutting knife and said counterknife, and an adjustable device for actuating said knives after displacing said knife carrier out of the normal and retracted position into an operaTive position.
 7. A sewing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said cutting device further includes a pneumatic cylinder having a piston rod connected with said knife carrier, a bearing block receiving said air cylinder, a sliding bar secured to said knife carrier and slidably received in said bearing block, said block having a bore and said adjustable means comprising a rod linked to said cutting knife and passing through said bore in said bearing block, and an adjustable stop means arranged on said rod for actuating said cutting knife upon abutting of said stop means at said bearing block.
 8. A sewing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said workpiece clamping means arranged on said work supporting plate consist of two workpiece clamping plates, for clamping two workpieces independently from each other, further comprising two tape cutting devices for cutting off the tape after it has been applied to one and to a part of the other one of said two neighboring workpieces. 